Resuscitation apparatus



Sept- 4, 1951 J. H. MEULER 2,566,351

RESUSCITATIO APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l (53 n- "-1. VF' 5,8//44 ./957 518 v l /53 F l e. 3 MJ* Sept. 4, 1951 J. H. MEuLl-:R

RESUSCITATION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1947 INVENTOR- AHYJ Fla. /4

Patented Sept. 4, V1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

The invention relates to resuscitation apparatus to resuscitate a victim of suflocation, lung paralysis, immersion, carbon monoxide, cardiac conditions, acute respiratory infections, drugs, convulsions, asthma, electric shock, and other conditions resulting in respiratory failure or retardation.

It has been established that the various prone pressure methods of resuscitation are unsatisfactory because of the inability of lay persons tocarry them out, and because when properly carried out, there is insufficient respiratory exchange during the cycle. It has been found that resuscitation carrid out by placing a patient on a tiltable support and rocking this support is far more effective than former methods, but up to the present apparatus to effect the tilting method have been unsatisfactory. Mechanical drives for the tilting mechanism are not Satisfactory because of the ever present chance of mechanical failure and of thevcost and bulkiness of Such equipment. To be successful an apparatus for carrying out the tilt method must be inexpensive, simple, readily portable and easy to operate. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that satisfies these requirements and'more particularly one which may be carried in knockdown condition to the scene of use, may be easily set up, consists of few parts, and embodies a timer whose operation is readily understood. The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and more particularly dened by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a resuscitation apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the iixed support in knockdown position;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation view of the collapsed xed support;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the movable support in knockdown position;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the movable support in knockdown position;

Fig. 10 is a detailed side elevation view showing a modified form of hinge mounting, parts being broken away;

Fig. 11 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on the line II--II of Fig. 10;`

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I2-I2 oi Fig. l1;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan View of one of the handles o f the movable support showing the timer exposed;

Fig. 14 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on the line Ill-I4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detailed elevation view of a leg footing member;

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on line I6-I6 of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings, the device includes a collapsible xed support I6 and a collapsible movable support I I medially pivotally mounted on said iixed support. f

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9, the fixed support I6 includes spaced pairs of legs I8. Each pair oi legs I8 is pivotally connected together by a pivot comprising a threaded sleeve bolt I9 receiving within it the threaded shank 20 of a bolt 2| which shank engages a spring lock washer 22 disposedy at the inner end of the sleeve of the bolt IB as shown in Fig. 4, the heads of the bolts I9 and 2I forming stop shoulders between which the rounded upper ends 23 of the legs I8 are disposed, it being noted that the legs are so shaped that the main portion 24 thereof is offset at the ends 23 and that the foot portions will have a flat licor-engaging end 2B. These ends 26 may simply rest on the ground or other support, or on shipboard may be placed in appropriate leg-receiving recesses, or as shown in Fig. 15 rubber suction foot pads 21 may be mounted on the legs.

Each pair of legs is held in spread apart position by suitable brace links 28 pivotally connected together at their inner ends by pins 29 and pivotally connected at their outer ends by pins 30 to the legs.

For holding the pairs of legs I8 in laterally spaced positions, sets of suitable brace links 3 I are associated with the corresponding leg of each pair. Each set of links 3| embody link members 32 pivotally connected together at their inner ends by pins 33 and pivotally connected at their outer ends by pins 34 to the legs as shown in Fig. 3. One of the links 28 or 32 may be longer than the other as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and provided with a projection 35 to engage in a recess 36 in the shorter link when the links are in extended or alined position as shown in Figs. l and 3. The upper set of links 3l are positively locked together byl having registering holes 30 in the shorter link 32A and the extended end of the other link 32 adapted to receive a locking pin 25 carried by a keeper chain 25. Also in order to further brace 3 these legs in the extended position of the brace links 3|, a chain 33' is connected at each of its .ends to the sides of theroppositely disposed legs i8 adjacent their pivots, as shown in Fig. 3. and is connected intermediate its ends to the pivot 33 5 for the upper set of brace links 3|.

With the above arrangement, legs are held in xed operative position when the links Vare eX tended, and when the links are collapsed, the legs may be foldedtogether in pairs'as shown in Fig. 6 and the pairs of legs then folded together as shown'in Fig. 7, thus making a very compact bundle for the xed support.

The movable support Il is in the.formiof-a. stretcher having side frame Vmembers 3'! towhi'ch 15 a canvas tcp 3S is secured, said members ib'eingsrf held in laterally spaced position .with theV top 33 in stretched condition by collapsible encl'br'aces4 39, each comprising a pair of links 4D pivotally' connected together at their inner ends by'pins 20 4I` andat. theirouter. ends.n to thegmembersl? by pins 42. The frame members :Hz-are also prefs f v erablyf. collapsible soV as .toV form` .twohalf-1 frame members43, and-for this vpurpose one ofthe framer members 43 is xed to a side plate 44, andltheigs other .frame memberllB ris .pivotally/connectedto this' xed member by a l.hinge- 45 `which .hasone- Y of its .hinge fplatesmounted. on-,theltopend of the other member 43. The frame members-53.-y togetherwith their-.braces-liilare shownl incole :so lapsed condition in Figs. 8 and.9,.and. it will-be -1 noted..that.the plate lillr has.-a`.loc1ing pinaper: ture 41-andthe hinged memberr43 .a-similar-apen` ture 48tofreceive-a'lockingpin 49 when the meme. bers 43 are moved to the alined-..position1shown.35 in-l'ig. l,saidA pin being carriedby theplatemlthroughaflexiblefchain; 50. Y

Each vside l`plate.44 hase flanged..,head; pivot-- Ill ' membenl anchored-thereto.whichfis .adap'tedzto rest fin..registering.notches' 52 in the associatedrco pairof...legs'l8, sothatthe ixed supportlorovidesselevated-spaced; fulcrums-.on which. the .stretcher i may tilt or; oscillate, lthe `frame vmembers-3.1' have ing-handlesf53 at their ends:

Ymeans'f-are providedwshownin- Figsfl fandias angle surfacesl I" foundfonthe head off thebolt'wJ 2|.and adaptedwto be engagedby thebottomcfx-f thefplate'll4whenv it 'reachesfthe desiredextremefi,

posit-ion of2ti1t." Also for satis-facto-ryresults, :there stretcherfshould be held 1in its upper and lower-.- tiltedpo'sition for a predetermined lengt-h. of .timef G5' forvexample, two Vto three. seconds'inA each position,.and in `order for. even av lay operator to'galugef;J this timing. interval thereV Vis i a 'fgravity timer: 5thv disposedv ateach Yend-'of the stretcher-ran1'e,.thisff i timerv comprising -;a `closed' .tube rfmoffglasswor transparent. plastic` having a' centra-lly disposed .f I partition v6! of plastic-"- with .'ats :62 .to provides-i a timing Arestriction'ithrough which the-:liquidgii suchias alcohol,` disposed within saidV casing-inay.r`r

' flowl -fromfonevend' tothe other,.thef.time.f:for:this-x37 transfer being the desired interval for holding the stretcher between tilts and in its tilted position. To protect the timer, When not in use, it is preierably mounted in a recess 64 in the handle anda cover plate a`5pivoted at 66 is adapted to be swung over the top of said recess. A small electric flashlight 60' is detachably mounted on one end of the frame members 3T adjacent its timer 6i) to illuminate the same at night.

Instead Vofiproviding spaced pivot: pinsf5l on the' stretch'erifor lmounting'in the'notched portions oi" the legs, I may removably connect the pairs of legs I8 together by a cross shaft 6l as shown-l irl-.Figs` .v10 to 12 in which case said shaft has a threaded end S8 for engaging the interna'llyzthreadedfshank 69 of a bolt Til, similar to the-bolt.. I9 .and its shouldered end H abuts againstv a collar'72`that may be pinned or otherwiseasecured to one of the legs IS, said `collar having tilt angle limiting stop pins T3 engageable with. .thebottom of. the .plate y1ML in. theY eX-treme Y positions-.oftilt-,2 the .ends ofthe .threaded-shaft.: e engaging springslock .-washers. `22fY in; the Shanks-.e loffthe boltsffm;Theplates Y44 of-the stretches. when the shaft-,671-V is used; carry .fulcrum.blocksf. 'I4 which .formv arcuate-pivot surfaces.- thatffene:J gage the shaft El' and permit the stretchemtc fa be. .ro cked about. .-the sarna.; and. :the echains; 54 engage; y=a hook: 51.* Iion the.; plate #14s-'to-` prevent er. dislodgement..... -V l Forl holdingfvthe .patient on the stretcher;l thee-fv canvasffbody V,36.5 -hasficrossedaA or. diagonally- ,dis-e posed. strapse? 5 secured:-interimediate.v their. ends at.. f1.5:-rcentrally:`L of -said=,body,r and preierablya.`A .odset slightly to Vone side of the.' fulcrum point of saidsstretcher, .-saidi straps being ,sorV spacedef; that.y they! encircle ivethe bodyi--abover andflbelowff.: the hips '"andfthus f effectively prevent l the :patient: :f from.:shittingmlengthwisel-.and laterally of Vth stretehenand. permit of. ready; applicat-ion.V tolthe: patient-fthe.:offsetting taking; care of the f rela tive-idiierencesfin .we-ight; of the body abovean.

below. 'the fhipsjso Ifthat- .the menten` ofvv gravity@ Y the: bodyY 2is-.'located substantially ati the.` fulcrum pointe of Vfsaid-,1stretcher. .--Also ,-straps.]5f; eachfzfe secured -interrnediate :its endszat- 'l5 '-1: to` the bodyqs. f of the stretche1. andf.spaced :toward one rsetpf.v handles/o the same are Vpreferably provided, said'.y i straps-being f; fused to` .encirclev the .legsY offqthefs; patient.

With the:E above a'farrangeli-lent,L` theipatentifn a prenez-position ris.- placed-z-'on thelstretcher-sand, strapped?. thereto;-` usually:1 .while the L 'stretcher .is; t; in a lowered position, the loadedf-stretche'r is thenrlifted: up, to 4:a heightisuicient-to :bringxits pivots or fulcrumapoints intof-registrygwithgtherlr complementaryffulcrumrpointszof :the iixedirame. and the'. tilting back :andyforth off itheistretcher; withu A.the epatient 5" fthereonf then; proceeds .the

A.tilting action being donewith' the .aident V their,

timer f 4as"1previously described, Lit being noted' that with the tilting method pressure..,due. tof-- weight "ofwbody'4 partsis alternately; placed ion the patients diaphragm andethen-relievedthere-.Je`

V from `causingthe diaphragm fto exert'fits effectV on the lungs of the patient to simulate.--normal--`v respira-tion.;v Y Y I desire it'V to be `understood:.tl'iatf-thisfirivene. tion isf-not -totfbe limited; to any. particular ,form or arrangement vof parts exceptagin` so -far;fas-. suchilimitations-.areincluded in the 'clannssl What Izclaim. asa my invention .is z.

i. In a resuscitation apparatus, the-=comloinaff.f tionfzofl a;collapsible fixed f supilQrt."comprising leg members pivotally connected-tcgetherfatone of their ends in pairs and the pairs collapsibly cross connected, collapsible means for holding the other ends of the legs of each pair in spread apart condition, and a stretcher comprising Vlongitudinal side frame members and a body carrying top, and means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on said xed support. y

2. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a collapsible xed support comprising leg members pivotally connected together at one of their ends in pairs and the pairs cross connected, collapsible means for holding the other ends of the legs of each pair in spaced apart condition, a collapsible stretcher comprising side members formed of half-length hingedly connected sections and a body carrying top member secured thereto, means for locking the hinged sections of each of said side members together in alined position, and means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on said xed support.

3. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a collapsible iixed support comprising leg members pivotally connected together and provided with notches registering to form a fulcrum recess, a stretcher including frame members provided with medially disposed pivots for mounting in said recesses, and flexible restraining connections between said legs and said pivots. 4. In a resucitation apparatus, the combination of two sets of leg members, the leg members of each set being pivotally lconnected together at one of their ends, means for holding the other ends of the leg members in a spread apartl condition, collapsible means for connecting the sets of leg members in laterally spaced relation, a collapsible stretcher comprising side members formed of hingedly connected sections and a flexible body carrying top member secured thereto, means for holding the hinged sections in an alined position, and means for pivotally mounting the stretcher on the pivoted end portions of said leg members.

5. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a collapsible fixed support comprising sets of leg members, the leg member of each set having a pivot head offset `from the body of the leg and a foot portion inclined inwardly from said body, the head portions of each set of legs arranged in abutting relation and the body portions of said legs being offset from said heads to aline the leg members of each set together in a common plane, means pivotally connecting together the head portions of and said leg members in pairs, means for holding the pairs of legs in spaced relation, and a stretcher medially fulcrumed on said spaced sets of legs.

6. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of two sets of leg members, the leg members of each set being pivotally connected together at one of their ends, means for holding the other ends of the leg members in a spread apart condition, collapsible sets of upper and lower brace links connecting the sets of leg members in laterally spaced relation, the upper of said sets having means for locking the same in an operative position, and chain means connecting the upper set of brace members to the upper portions of the leg members to which said brace members are connected, and a stretcher comprising longitudinal side frame members and .a body carrying top, and means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on the upper ends of said sets of leg members.

7. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a support, a stretcher medially fulcrumed to tilt on said support and including a body supporting top member, diagonally disposed straps secured centrally of the top member for engaging over the body of the patient above and below the hips thereof and acting to dispose the center of gravity of the body of the patient substantially at the fulcrum of the stretcher and transversely disposed straps secured intermediate their ends to said top member and spaced from said first named straps and adapted to engage over the legs of a patient.

8. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a support, a stretcher medially fulcrumed to tilt on said support and including a body supporting top member, and diagonally disposed straps secured to the central portion of said top member and offset a short distance from the center of said top member for engaging over the body of the patient above and below the hips thereof to hold the body of the patient in a position in which its -center of gravity is substantially at the fulcrum point of the stretcher.

9. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a collapsible iixed support comprising leg members pivotally connected together at one of their ends in pairs and the pairs cross connected by collapsible means permitting movement of said pairs of legs into abutting relation, collapsible means for holding the other ends of the legs of each pair in spaced condition, and a stretcher comprising longitudinal side frame members and a body carrying top, and means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on said fixed support.

10. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a xed support, a collapsible stretcher comprising spaced sets of side members, the side member of each set being hingedly connected together at the central portion of said stretcher and a body carrying top member secured to said side members, a channel member provided with alined apertures and secured to one of the side members of each set adjacent the hinged end thereof and adapted to receive and form a bottom support for the hinged end of the other of said side members which is provided with an aperture alineable with the apertures in said channel member, a locking pin passing through said apertures to lock said sets of side members in alined position, and means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on said fixed support.

11. The structure as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on the xed supports includes fulcrums carried by said channel members.

l2. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of two sets of leg members, each pivotally connected at one of their ends, collapsible means for holding the leg members of each set in spread apart condition, and collapsible connections between each set of leg members to form a collapsible fixed support, and a medially collapsible stretcher comprising hingedly connected frame members and a body carrying top, and means for detachably pivotally mounting said stretcher intermediate its ends on said xed support.

13. In a resuscitation apparatus, the combination of a support, a stretcher medially fulcrumed to tilt on `said support andincludinga body:` sup-114 porting top member, said stretcher restingxbv" gravity at its V.-fulorum points on .said support, an'dsm'eans for retainingsaid stretcher'l against accidental removal from said support, saidsmeans-.ri includingi flexible connectionslbetween said sup-i v portiy and said stretcher.

14. In a resuscitation apparatus, thecombinav' Y tion of a stretcher,.means ormediaHys'upporte: ing said. stretcherV in a raised position forftilt.-A

ing movement, and a timerzcarried'by the stretcherfand @Operating therewith'to timeV the dwell,

periods between tilts orsaid stretcher, saidtimer' including a hollow straightvtube body. containing a liquid and having bottomi-portionfof Aunie'l form'sectionfthroughout-its length rand a medial- 1y disposed memberV above said bottom'and form'- 'ing a restriction.

V15`."In a resuscitation apparatus, the-combina; tion ofa pair of spaced legs conneotedtogetherto Vform' an elevatedifulcrum' support, a stretcher fulcrumed 'on said supportgand stop'means on 1;

to said supportxt-z REFERENCES iCITED; A

`The following references areof'record intherf filef'ofI this patent:.x=:

UNITEDS'ATES PATENTS v Date1^-1` JAMES MEULER. 

